It's uncommon for anyone, let alone climbers (who tend to be a wee bit self-centered), to reach beyond their own lives and address the needs of others. It's even more rare to devote one's entire career to philanthropy.

But that's exactly what Asa Firestone, a 30-year-old climber from Boulder, is doing.

In 2003, Firestone spent a semester studying engineering in Brazil. He planned an extra two months to climb all over the country, including a stint in Rio de Janeiro.

The famed Ipanema Beach embodies Rio's sexy, exotic stereotype: miles of sand and surf butting up against countless high rises of upper-middle-class neighborhoods that line the tropical paradise. Jutting above the Atlantic like a two-headed sentinel at the far end of the beach, Two Brothers Peak is a striking granite tower whose symmetry would appeal to any climber's imagination. Firestone was smitten.

But local climbers warned him not to go. Just beneath the peak lurks Rocinha Favela, one of the largest slums in Brazil, and the headquarters of Amigos dos Amigos, a heavily armed drug militia. Firestone was deeply disturbed by this contrast between rich and poor, beauty and filth, opportunities and dead-ends.

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But then he had a crazy idea: Why not take kids from the favelas to the granite peaks in their backyard and teach them how to climb?

Like anything worthwhile, it wasn't easy.

Eight years of effort finally paid off with a grant from the American Alpine Club last year. The Zack Martin Breaking Barriers Grant awards climbing-related humanitarian goals, and it gave Firestone the financial jump-start he needed.

A section of Rocinha Favela with the towering Two Brothers Peak above. More than 200,000 people are crammed into shanty dwellings with poor conditions a stone's throw from extravagant Ipanema Beach. Photo: Asa Firestone
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Last year, with renewed funding and hope, Firestone and American Andrew Lenz formed the Centro de Escalada Urbana, or Urban Climbing School, in Rio's Rocinha Favela. "We believe that climbing can provide the passion needed for some of the favela youth to rise above the crime, drugs and prejudice to overcome the barriers to their dreams," Firestone said.

In addition to climbing outings, which build confidence and leadership skills, Firestone and Lenz plan to train some of their students to become certified climbing guides. This will give them an opportunity to earn a living locally, through adventure tourism.

"Our main goal now is to build a professional climbing wall in the government-managed Rocinha sports complex adjacent to the slum," Firestone said. At 50 feet tall by 70 feet wide, it will be one of the largest climbing walls in Brazil and an excellent facility for attracting and training favelayouth. Firestone also hopes the wall will draw climbers from other social strata.

In order to fund the project, Firestone and his best friend, Gil Weiss, created BEYONDgear, a company that supports adventure sports programs for at-risk youth. BEYONDgear donates 50 percent of its profits to programs like Centro de Escalada Urbana in Brazil.

Last summer, Firestone and Weiss visited Peru, in part to scope the potential near Huaraz for another youth program, and also to attempt a new route on the 2,500-foot south face of Palcaraju Oeste, whose summit rises just above 20,000 feet. Poor weather plagued their attempt, and Firestone eventually flew home. Weiss returned in mid-July with Ben Horne, and this time the pair succeeded.

But as easily as climbing can enrich our lives, it can also take them away. Weiss and Horne perished on the descent when a snow ridge collapsed and they fell nearly 1,000 feet.

Devastated, Firestone wasn't sure he could continue BEYONDgear without his partner. But now, after several months of personal struggle, Firestone is more motivated than ever to invest in BEYONDgear.

"For Gil," he said.

"Right now we're focused on raising money for the climbing wall in Rio," Firestone said. In addition to grants, fundraising and seeking corporate sponsorship, Firestone also sells jewelry, chalkbags and other products. Products that, Firestone said, "symbolize the concept of using adventure for good."

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